Hi everyone,

I'm new here but I have a question I was hoping you all could help me with. My sister's bitch is about 52 days pregnant and this is her second litter. The last time she whelped on day 60 (from first breeding) on the 10th day of her heat. We were wondering if we could count on her whelping on the 60th day this time also. She was mated once again on the 10th day of her heat, so things are pretty much like the last time. Do you all think she'll have the pups on the 60th day again or what do you think the chances are?

Thanks for any help.

No, each pregnancy is individual and she has the same percentage chance of producing on Day 60 as she did the first time

Thank you, but is there anyone that has noticed that their bitch whelped sooner, later or the same on second whelpings?I'm just trying to get a rough idea. Thanks!!!!

My lot have always been different

No two pregnancies are the same - just like with people.

Take her temperature that should give you a rough idea when she will come into whelp...My bitch always whelped her pups on day 63 from the first breeding :)

Thanks everyone. My sisters bitch is miserable. She just sits around looking so sad and won't eat her dog food. My sister made her a concoction of boiled chicken, peas and carrots and mixed it in with her food and she does seem to like that. Today is day 52 from first mating and my sister is worried that she won't make it to day 60 like last time. What is the safest day that she could whelp?

Thank you all!!

I think it's day 56 that they can be okay but I couldn't swear to it.

I didn't think my bitch could last till her full term as on day 51/52 she went very, very quiet and not eating properly, not sleeping much just generally looking very sorry for herself.  I gave my bitch rice pudding that seemed to perk her up a bit, she just would not eat her normal food at all despite adding eggs and all sorts of yummy foods that she normally demolishes in one go and splitting it up into 4 meals a day.

Then she whelped on day 62 after first mating. 

If your sister is worried about her bitch the safest thing would be to get her checked out by a vet in case she has an infection

Not quite the same about human pregnancies :) Both my children were at least 2 weeks late - my doctor told me that woman tend to have the same 'cycle' in pregnancy - ie some women tend to deliver early, some on time and some late.

No knowledge of dogs tho' :D

Daisy

Hi,
Whats the chances of a bitch standing on the same day as a previous mating.
My bitch stood on day 13 last time, she's on day 8 at the moment, and still not ready.
I am getting her swabbed regular, so I shouldn't miss it.
Michelle.

I have found it varies from season to season. My last bitch stood on day 13 for her first litter, but not till day 18 for her second.
:)

Thanks everyone. Well, she is about 58 or 59 days today. She is wanting to go out and use the bathroom a lot, like every hour or so. She also pooped in her whelping box (which she never poops in the house). She isn't digging much, but she really didn't do that too much last time either. Do you think we can expect them today or tonight? She won't let me or my sister take her temperature, so we have no idea what it is.

Don't let her out unattended. One bitch I knew thought she needed a poo, and had a puppy instead. In the middle of the lawn.

I forgot to mention in the middle of the night she was sitting on the new carpet (which is off white) and when she stood up there was a very small (about the size of this put together @@) wet spot. It was clear, but very sticky. I know she will have some discharge, but I just wish I knew how close to whelping she is.

Well, she made it through another night.I slept in the dining room with her lastnight. She has been sleeping like crazy. She hasn't been digging but she did throw up about 3:00 this morning (it is now almost 7:00 a.m.). My sister said she is so different this time. I sure wish we knew when she will have her pups. She seems calmer now compared to what she has been over the last couple of days. Anyone have any ideas what might be going on?

I always find they go very quiet and rest and sleep about 48 hours before they whelp, 24 hours before, they become restless, panting, agitated then sleep, doesnt sound like it will be that long.

Thank you very much. She has been sleeping most of the day and I can feel the pups moving and they are very active today. I could actually feel one pups head. It felt like it was trying to come right out through her side,lol.

Daphne I would suggest that if they are very active today they preparing for the exit, so I would expect them within the next 24hrs. The wet sticky patch is the mucus plug which seals the cervix during pregnancy, it starts to dissolve so you will see small wet patches and then often a large blob. As labour aproaches she will refuse her food and start to pant. My bitch has just given birth, she lost her plug at 12.30 at night but the first pup did not arrive until 6am.
HTH Debbie

Another night has passed and no pups. She had me up all night. She is my sister's dog, but wants me all the time. I'm exhausted.She sleeps for about half an hour then gets up and wants me to pet her and give her lovings. She keeps switching positions from one side to the other and pants on and off. When she does sleep, she sleeps very sound. Please someone tell me how much longer do you think it will be? Oh, and thank you everyone who has responded. You've all been a great help.

Hi Daphne, I should get used to exhaustion :)  I wish I could tell you how long it will be but it does sound like she will start soon, good that she is resting and as antillgsd said as the process lengthens she will become restless and pant, this can go on for 24hrs. I would contact your vet and warn them that you have a bitch due to whelp, hopefully she will do it at a sensible time but usually they wait until the vets are closed, weekend is fast approaching too. Make notes on her behaviour and especially make a note of the time that she starts to push. Keep us all posted too.

Just an update here. My sister's bitch is starting to dig the floor a little. Not her bed or blankets, but the floor. Hey, at least it's a sign, right? Yesterday when she went out to go potty, you could tell she was trying to have a bowel movement, but nothing came out. This happened twice. Then lastnight she ate her dinner and when she went to the bathroom it was a little runny. So, here it is, 4:56 a.m. and she is sleeping. Oh please someone tell me she is having her pups today.I have not had hardly any sleep and I'm so tired. Everytime I try to sleep, she wakes me up wanting me to pet her.She has been like this for the past 4 nights and I really need some sleep.I will let you all know when something happens, but I'm beginning to think she remembers the last time she had pups and she is trying to put it off.

I'm so confused now. This morning she wouldn't eat (not even hamburger) and she was digging the floor like crazy and panting and whining. She would lay down for about 10 minutes and get up and do it all over again.This went on for about 3 or 4 hours.Now she is sleeping like a baby and has been for about an hour and a half. Does anyone know what I can expect next and why she stopped all this?

sounds pretty normal behaviour for a bitch due to whelp within 24 hours, just had a bitch whelp this week, exactly the same sort of behaviour. What day is she on? best indicator is by taking temperature 3 times a day but if she wont let you that doesnt help. You will just have to hang on in there, she will start when she is ready.

Just to let you all know. She had her pups!!!! Four girls and four boys. She had them from 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning until 7:30 a.m. One little girl had a rough beginning but is doing much better. Thank you all for helping me through this.

Well done,
Hope everything is going ok and mum, babies and yourself are coping. keep us informed of progress.
Karen.